cultivate

      English

      Etymology

      From Medieval Latin cultivātus, perfect passive participle of cultivō (“till, cultivate”), from cultīvus (“tilled”), from Latin cultus, perfect passive participle of colō (“till, cultivate”), which comes from earlier *quelō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- (“to move; to turn (around)”). Cognates include Ancient Greek πέλω (pelō) and Sanskrit चरति (cárati). The same Proto-Indo-European root also gave Latin in-quil-īnus (“inhabitant”) and anculus (“servant”).

      Pronunciation

      Verb

      cultivate (third-person singular simple present cultivates, present participle cultivating, simple past and past participle cultivated)

      1. To grow plants, notably crops
        Farmers should cultivate their crops to get a good harvest.
      2. To nurture; to foster; to tend.
        They tried to cultivate an interest in learning among their students.
      3. To turn or stir soil in preparation for planting.

      Derived terms

      Translations

      grow plants, notably crops
      nurture
      turn or stir soil in preparation for planting
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      Interlingua

      Participle

      cultivate

      1. past participle of cultivar
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      Last modified on 20 May 2013, at 15:52